Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Doctors Using 'Super Honey' to Treat Wounds, Infections

'Super honey': A new type of honey has produced amazing results treating wounds and infections

A new honey has been produced that has had ‘amazing’ results treating wounds and infections.The
bio-engineered product Surgihoney was tested on babies, new mothers,
cancer patients and the elderly for over a year in Hampshire hospitals.Wounds
and ulcers, including those infected with the superbug MRSA, healed
within days, while the number of women who suffered infections after
giving birth by caesarean section has halved.It
has also healed the wounds of soldiers returning from Afghanistan, and
been used to treat acne and to protect the skin of cancer patients
fitted with a catheter for chemotherapy.Dr
Matthew Dryden, consultant microbiologist at the Hampshire Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘It will revolutionise wound care around the
world.’ Honey has been used for its healing powers for thousands of years, although doctors favour penicillin and antibiotics. However,
Surgihoney, which is stored in 10g sachets, can kill bacteria,
parasites and fungal infections while also encouraging wounds to heal.Dr Dryden said: ‘I have conducted numerous laboratory tests and compared it with honeys from around the world. ‘I
found Surgihoney better for treating every type of bug. So for the past
year I have been using it on patients and the results have been
amazing. 'There are plenty of products that can kill bacteria but they often don’t help heal tissue. ‘Honey is a fantastic natural medicine. The important extra is that it kills the bugs but doesn’t damage the tissue.’ Surgihoney is being developed by Ian Staples, a businessman who once owned the Halfords motor accessories chain. He
bought an organic farm in southern Chile, set up beehives then funded
scientific researchers in Ireland to identify the unique health
elements. The honey has
been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Authority in the UK but is not yet commercially available.
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